France, Germany Urge Ukraine To Push Forward On Reforms

The German and French foreign ministers have praised Ukraine for its reforms thus far but are urging Kyiv to push for greater progress in battling corruption.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault wrote in the February 22 edition of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that reforms are so important that "all political and economic forces in the country" should take part.

Steinmeier and Ayrault begin a two-day visit to Kyiv on February 22.

The two foreign ministers will meet with top Ukrainian officials and discuss the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine during their trip.

The two stressed in their article the need for Ukrainian officials to "remain faithful to the spirit of Maidan," a reference to the uprising that ousted Russian-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014.

The foreign ministers also noted the importance of enacting the peace agreement signed in Minsk one year ago.

The accords brought major hostilities in Ukraine to an end and installed a fragile cease-fire.

More than 9,100 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine in the past two years of fighting.